Reply to Park/Point of Interest

Question about a possible park or point of interest between Rhineland and maybe Jeff City? Last year while riding along this section I vaguely remember some kind of park that you could reach by riding up a steep hill which was along the trail on the north side or you could take a side trail of some sort. At the time I was too tired to investigate. I'll be riding this section again in September so want to put it on my to-do list to check out. Sorry, not a lot of information to go on but if anybody might know where I am talking about, please let me know. Thanks

Maybe you mean between Jefferson City and Rocheport? There is eagles bluff west of Hartsburg which is a steep hike up to an overlook of the wet lands and the MKT trail near McBaine that takes you into Columbia MO.

I can’t think of anything like what you described between Rhineland and Jefferson City.

Maybe Klondike Park?

I thought about Klondike Park but that was closer to Augusta, but yeah, let’s throw that in for possibilities.

Klondike is what I was thinking, also. It certainly fits the description. But it's 60 miles east of Rhineland. That's not even close.

There is a spur immediately east of the North Jefferson Trailhead that goes in the direction of Holts Summit and you may be able to get to the Cantebury Hill Winery. I just checked Google Maps and it's the John Sweet Spur Trail. But I'm not aware of it connecting to a park. It's right after you go under Hwy 54.

There's also the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows near Rhineland. I don't recall if it is easy to get to by bike. But in 2009 I biked the Katy Trail with my daughter and my husband was our support. At one point we loaded the bikes on the car and went to check out the shrine. It was very interesting. It's actually in Starkenburg. You would take the Katy Trail to hwy P before Rhineland and then take Hwy P to the Shrine. I don't know if it's easy to bike on Hwy P. I think there's actually a pilgramage maybe in the fall to the Shrine, and the people walk on the Katy Trail. I've seen that and it also was very interesting. No one in hairshirts, or beating themselves with chains, nothing like that. But a large group of religious people, some with children, walking a very long distance on the trail to the church. I think they camp along the way.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

I’m fairly certain you mean Eagle Bluffs Overlook Trail. It’s between Jeff City and Columbia, has a trail leading down to the Katy, and there’s a wood sign on the Katy side. If you search for this on google maps it will appear the conservation area is further north, but it does stretch to the Katy. Open the link and scroll through the pictures, the next to last picture shows the sign which might jar your memory. The Klondike park others mentioned is way outside your search area, but does fit part of your description. It would be worth going to. I regret missing it because pictures I later saw looked very nice….i think there are a few ways into that particular park….one steep, one not.

Might be the overlook at GrandBluffs Conservation Area at Bluffton.